Safety tips to remember during power outages
The City of Johannesburg has provided safety tips for using candles and heaters around the house.
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In light of the recent string of power outages, the City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Services have issued the following safety tips to keep residents from endangering themselves with non-electrical appliances.
Candles:
- Keep candles away from children
- A child should not be left unattended in a room with a candle
- Store candles, matches and lighters out of children’s reach
- Do not use a candle to light a stove
- Do not use a candle in a confined space
Braziers or Imbaula:
n Use these in well ventilated areas to avoid carbon monoxide inhalation, and before you go to bed, take the brazier outside.
Also Read: Wide-scale power outage hits Roodepoort
Paraffin:
- Put your paraffin stove on a flat surface where it cannot fall or get knocked over
- Use safe containers to store paraffin, for example, in bottles with safety caps
Before you go to bed or leave your house:
- Put out the candle or paraffin lamp
- Always put out cigarettes carefully and do not smoke in bed
If the electricity is on, and appliances such as heaters, among others, are in use, remember to switch them off at the plug point before going to bed or leaving the house.
For any life threatening emergencies, call 10177 (from a Telkom landline) or 112 (from a cellphone) or 011 375 5911.
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